1Section 5

ENVIRONMENT INDUCTION

Overview

• Environmental Legal Obligations

• Environment Policy

• Environmental Commitment

• InSitu Recovery (ISR) Mining – Low Environmental Impact

• Monitoring and Reporting

• Environmental Clearance Permits

• Minimising Impacts

• Fenced Areas

• Snakes

• Waste Management

• General Operations

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Heathgate

• has a Company Environmental Policy Statement

• is regulated through our Program for Environment

Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) and various licences

• regularly reports on its environmental performance to

government and releases its annual environment report

(Annual Compliance Report) to the public

Environmental Legal Obligations

Photo taken at Four Mile Creek

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Environmental Policy

Environmental Commitment

Visitors and the indigenous community are welcome to

visit the mine site to see how little impact our mining operations

have on all aspects of the natural environment

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ISR Mining Environmentally Low Impact

Heathgate makes the following statements to stakeholders

• Minimal Surface Impact

– wells and surface run pipes are linked to wellhouses which are

linked to trunklines that carry solutions to and from the plant

– no big hole in the ground or underground tunnels

• Minimal Waste products - no rock waste or tailings dams

• Minimal site infrastructure

– the processing plant uses an ion exchange process similar to a

water softener system

– there is no crushing or milling

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Monitoring – Reporting to Regulators

Regulatory reporting includes

• groundwater monitor wells -

water levels and chemistry

• vegetation

• fauna

• Ecosystem Function Analysis

(EFA)

• soil and surface hydrology

• meteorological data

• waste management

• environmental radiation

Do not disturb monitoring sites

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Environmental Clearance Permits

• An Environmental Clearance Permit must be obtained from the

Health, Safety, Security and Environment Department (HSSE) before

entering any undisturbed area or area under rehabilitation

• A copy of the Environmental Clearance Permit must be held by and

understood by the person/group doing the work before vehicle access or

work begins in an undisturbed area or area under rehabilitation

• It is the responsibility of all individuals to comply with an Environmental

Clearance Permit

An Environmental Clearance Permit

• prevents unplanned disturbances and minimises destruction of habitat and

heritage sites

• allows fencing/flagging of sensitive areas

• enables design of a track network for access

• enables the area of expected disturbance to be defined

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Minimise Impact - Vegetation Clearance

Clearing vegetation:

• removes important habitat for native

animals

• reduces seed source availability

• removes ground cover

• reduces ground surface protection

• leads to nuisance caused by dust

• allows for wind and water erosion

• can create a cycle of further erosion

• affects the whole ecosystem

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Topsoil must be removed and stockpiled separately, adjacent to the

excavation e.g. drill pits

• topsoil contains valuable seeds and

nutrients and must be returned to the

top for rehabilitation to occur

• gibber (stony cover) prevents erosion

excavated

material

topsoil

drill pit

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Minimise Impact – Remove Topsoil Before Excavation

Minimise Impact - Tracks

• Keep to established roads

and tracks

• If another route is needed,

obtain an Environmental

Clearance Permit from ESH

• Tracks:• compact soil

• increase dust

• create a pathway for

erosion

• impact on soil ecology and

vegetation potential

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Minimise Impact - General

• Drive at a safe speed within the speed limits

– consider weather and road conditions

• Confine the impact of all disturbances to a

minimum area

• Avoid sensitive vegetation (e.g. trees and

shrubs), soakage areas and vegetation

along the margins of creeks

• Return topsoil for capping to in-filled areas

where excavation has occurred (it is an

important source of seed and nutrients

necessary for local plant regeneration and therefore rehabilitation)

• Alien plants/weeds, pets, firearms and fires

are prohibited on site

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Minimise Impact - General

The following rules apply

• drive only on the established road

network and drive or reverse to pre-

determined turn around zones

• NEVER reverse in a wellfield unless a

spotter is present

• excavations and drill cuttings are not

to be placed in sensitive areas – do not

disturb drill cuttings unless doing the

rehabilitation of the drill site

Green markers identify

proposed tracks

Drill cuttings

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Fenced areas

Fenced areas must not be disturbed or entered

Fencing

• protects sensitive areas (cultural and environmental)

• must not be removed or altered unless discussed with HSSE staff

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Snakes

Snakes

• are generally very shy

• may become aggressive if cornered or are distressed

• may strike to defend themselves

• ALL snakes are protected species

To avoid snake bites

• NEVER try to catch, annoy or kill a snake

• If you see a snake

– remain still to allow it to move on and note where it

goes

– warn others nearby of its presence

– contact HSSE ASAP if it is near a work area or camp

for capture and relocation by trained snake handlers

• Remember, snakes are most active on warm to hot nights

so carry a torch and wear appropriate shoes and trousers

to protect from snake bites which usually occur on the

lower leg

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Waste Management

Site generates two types of waste

• General (non-radioactive) waste

– dispose in green plastic wheelie bins at plant, wellhouses, offices and camp

– rubbish dumped in the general waste facility must be covered with fill or soil immediately

– if in doubt, scan the item

• Low Specific Activity (low level radioactive) waste

(LLW)

– dispose in lined 200 L steel drums inside the plant and at wellhouses

– is collected and disposed on in specifically

engineered, lined LLW facilities

– also refer to Radiation Induction)

• Recycle where possible (bins in work and camp

areas) - recyclables are collected, packaged

and transported offsite to recycling facilities

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General Operation

• Always remain on existing roads and tracks

• Trapping, hunting or harming animals is prohibited except in approved HSSE programs

• Feral, injured/trapped or dead animals must be

reported to the HSSE

• Please do not feed any animals

• DO NOT cross the gas pipeline, adjacent to the

main access road from plant to main gate,

except at constructed crossings

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• Ensure all rubbish is collected and disposed

of correctly

• Cigarette butts must be disposed of in butt bins or general waste bins - personal butt bins

are available from HSSE - DO NOT throw on

the ground

• Scrap plastic should be tied in a knot prior to

disposal to prevent it from blowing around

• Reuse, recycle and reduce as much material

as possible - ideas are always welcomed by

HSSE

• Immediately contain spills (e.g. radioactive,

chemical, oil, grease, cement, drilling mud,

water) and report to HSSE

General Operation

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Please complete

the Environment Quiz

you have been given

and move to the next section

If in doubt

at any time

just ask HSSE

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